James Arthur Williams, Gordon Ga

As you approach the city of Gordon, Ga., it may strike you as a sleepy little country town with not much going on. Most of the people in this quaint little place has lived there, their entire life...and as with any small town, everyone knows everyone. For the size of this place, industry is good with it's Kaolin company, Internet Service Provider, hardware store, bank, funeral home, feed store and several business's along the railroad track and one of the best known veterinarians anywhere around. Talk about a country town...this is it ! They have no Wal-Mart, skating rinks, or movie theatres, just the kind of place your grandparents was raised in....in the heart of the bible belt. When you ask someone for a phone number there, they give you the last four numbers, because they know that you already know the first three. Cool huh? But they also have a hidden treasure that most people don't know about.

This short story is about boy who grew up there, became a man and went from humble beginnings to a famous well known person in Savannah,Ga. This man was truly a genius.

If you haven't read the book ( or seen the movie ) "Midnight In The Garden Of Good and Evil"...this should be is a must of things to do, on your list. The setting is in the beautiful city of Savannah, Ga. ...and a true story of one of Wilkinson Counties own citizens. This is a true story. Jim Williams was from Gordon, Ga. ( Wilkinson County, Ga.). When Jim reached adulthood, he went to Savannah, and became the owner of a local antique store, which was located behind the carriage house at his home. He was a self made millionaire, who was rather eccentric and known for his love of restoring the local houses. Prominent members of Savannah were always in attendance at his grand parties at his home on Bull Street in Savannah, called the "Mercer" house built in 1861. It stands at the west end of Monterey Square. The house is named after General Hugh Mercer, its original owner and the great-grandfather of Johnny Mercer, composer of the music for Breakfast at Tiffany's with Henry Mancini. Jim was strikingly good looking and caused quiet a bit of talk when these lavish parties took place. The Christmas parties were especially a sought after invitation. Jim truly helped the city of Savannah, by saving it's magnificent homes. He died of pnuemonia and heart failure in the home he loved & he worked so hard to get . Jim Williams ( James Arthur Williams ) was the son of hard working parents, his father, Arthur Williams, ran a barber shop in Gordon. Although some people would have you believe that Jim is buried in Savannah, he is actually buried at Ramah Cemetery next to his mother, Blanche Brooks Williams, just outside of Gordon, in Wilkinson County, Ga. Today the Mercer House is owned by Jim's sister, and if you are lucky enough to get to take a tour of this ritzy mansion, it will be worth the trip. Kevin Spacey portraits Jim Williams in "Midnight In The Garden Of Good and Evil", movie actor Clint Eastwood directed this film.